Sindh to get renewable energy parks to resolve power crisis

By Zulfiqar Kunbhar

KARACHI: Pakistan has become worst hit country to climate change and its southern Sindh province is becoming more vulnerable to extreme weather events. The recent heat wave that killed more than 1300 people in the provincial capital is termed one of the extreme weather events in recent recorded history. Beside other factors, the power crisis was said to be major contributor of death toll during the heat wave.

After taking the situation seriously, provincial government has decided to southern Sindh province, decided to initiate energy parks to resolve the ongoing power crisis in the province.

According to the official spokesperson, these renewable energy (parks) power projects will be establish in the 7 Districts of the Province including Thatta, Jamshoro, Larkana, Sukkur, Tharparkar , Matiari and Sanghar District. “For this purpose, provincial government is allotting 42,000 acres of land in these districts,” spokesperson Told The Nature News over telephone.

In a meeting held on Friday at Sindh CM House, Karachi and presided over by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and during the meeting it was also decided that this land would be allotted and made at the disposal of provincial energy department which will sub-lease the land to the interesting investors as per requirement of their projects under the fixed criteria.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah also constituted experts committee comprising on the representatives of Board of Revenue, Energy, Technocrats / Consultants to scrutinize the request and sub-lease the land to the investors as per requirement of their projects.

“Sindh chief minister directed the members of experts committee to fix the criteria to determine the size of land with measurable bench mark of per MW, before the allotment so that each investor be facilitated accordingly,” said spokesperson.

He stressed upon officers concerned to expedite this process of allotment of land and directed that the experts committee should allot the land to investors within 15 days.
The Chief Minister Sindh said that though at present there are many renewable energy projects in different stages, but energy department should do its best to ensure that at least 1000 MW Power should be generated within a year time.
“At present 256 MW are being produced by five different National & International Companies in Sindh, while 9 other companies of renewable energy have achieved their financial close by March 31, 2015 and would be able to generate total 477 MW by the end of September 2016 and these companies include Saphire to generate 49.5 MW, Younus 50 MW, Hydro China Dawoad 49.5 MW, Metro 49.5 MW, UEP 100 MW, Gul Ahmed 49.5 MW, Tapal 30 MW, Tenaga Generasi 49.5MW and Master 49.5 MW,” Secretary Energy Agha Wasif briefed the meeting. He said that Besides, 45 different other renewable power projects with total capacity to generate 3000 MW are also in pipeline and different stages.
He said that energy department was actively pursuing renewable energy policy and attracted foreign investors, through one window service and has issued 33. LOIs. He said that out of these 33 LOIs , 17 have been issued to wind power companies and 16 to solar companies which all to be enable to generate Total 2110 MW.
The Chief Minister Sindh said that Sindh has great potential of renewable energy and we want to utilize it to get rid of load shading and facilitated the people of Sindh. He said that Sindh was also in advance stage in establishing its own Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company which in its 1st phase to carry on 100 MW power to K-Electric to be generated by Nori Abad Gas Power project shortly.